- A six year old boy from Britain is believed to be among the dead of Friday’s elementary school massacre.
Dylan Hockley was shot dead at Sandy Hook School, in Newtown, Connecticut, on Friday.
In an article in The Newton Bee newspaper published before the shootings, his mother, Nicole, said she and her British husband, Ian, moved to the US from England two years ago.
It is believed their older son, who was also a pupil, survived the attack.
Dylan is among 20 child victims of Friday’s shooting – all aged either six or seven – whose names have been released by the US authorities.
Six adults also died.
In The Newton Bee article, American Ms Hockley says she lived in England for 18 years before moving to Newtown with her family and her British husband Ian, who works for IBM.
On the family’s decision to settle in Newtown, Ms Hockley says: “This was the place, when we were driving around, where we felt happy and comfortable.
“The schools here have been amazing, and the people in my neighbourhood are incredible. Newtown is a wonderful place to live and we’re looking forward to being here a long, long time.”
Mike Wimbridge, a former neighbour of the Hockley family in Eastleigh, Hampshire, told the BBC he was “devastated” by the news of Dylan’s death.
He said the family rented out their British home two years ago and had just decided to make the move permanent by selling the house.
Mr Wimbridge said: “I think Ian was back this week to sign the papers for the sale, so they must have just decided it was the right thing for the family.”
Prayers were said for Dylan and his family at St Nicolas parish church in North Stoneham, Eastleigh, in the morning.
Reverend Stephen Holmes, the rector, said: “I didn’t know the family personally but they are very much in our prayers at this time.”
Asked about Dylan’s death, the UK Foreign Office said: “We do not comment on consular cases involving minors.”
The gunman, named in media reports as Adam Lanza, killed his mother, Nancy, before driving to the school and opening fire.
Reports say the guns used in the attacks were registered to her.
Earlier on Saturday, Lt Paul Vance of Connecticut state police said the gunman had forced his way into the school, and had not been let in “voluntarily”.
He said investigators had gathered “good evidence” in the search for a motive.
Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner H Wayne Carver said all the victims at the school were shot with a rifle, at least some of them from close range.
